33. Elliot
ELLIOT
You always think… How can it possibly get worse? Then life laughs in your face.
I thought I was making the right choice handing over the information Rowan and I collected to Alexander, figured he’d get closure, maybe handle it quietly.
I did not think he would go nuclear, and the media shitstorm has only gotten worse because of it.
He held a press conference calling his father out, the women who lied, and everyone else who was involved.
Did he stop there? Nope!
I see where Harper gets her steel and fire from.
The man went to every major outlet with an official statement, exposing decades of manipulation inside one of America’s oldest families.
He announced that he and any organization he is tied to has permanently severed ties with his extended family.
That the only family he recognizes, or will be associated with, is his daughter and sole heir, Harper Lane Montgomery.
Every headline is about the Montgomerys, and everyone wants to get closer to Harper.
In the executive boardroom, the drone of the board members fighting over each other… wanting to know how we can capitalize on this. Even my parents called and I cannot remember the last time I heard from them. But I am now directly linked to the Montgomery heir and suddenly I exist.
I sigh and look down at the articles in front of me.
Montgomery Patriarch Accused of Orchestrating Affair Scandal
Twenty-Year Cover Up Alleged
Was the Tragic Crash Built on Lies?
The board is happy that no one is talking about the long line of women that came before Harper, because now the focus is on her family… her name.
“Did you know this would happen?” I hear someone ask. But all I can think about is how Harper is handling all of this.
Everyone in the room debates whether Northwell should distance itself or take a stand, choosing a side.
But I barely hear the debate because Rowan walks in, and I can tell by the look on his face that I will not like what he says.
He moves past everyone, ignoring the protests about interrupting the meeting that, let's be honest, I had completely checked out from.
"We've got another problem."
Everyone immediately quiets, and I wonder how that is even possible. But I should know better at this point.
"He's trying to get to Harper."
The room is silent for just a moment; I know immediately who he is talking about. But Alexander must have known they could become desperate. That if they had fabricated an affair to separate Sophie from the family, they would absolutely bypass him to get to Harper directly.
Rowan tosses a folder in front of me as he explains that her security has intercepted him twice at the townhouse property, and now he has been constantly sending gifts, letters, requests to meet, to explain his side.
He even had his lawyers try to get to her.
The old man has even been manipulating old family connections, trying every avenue to get to her.
It would almost seem sweet, the effort a grandfather put in to get access to his grandchild.
Except for this has nothing to do with missing Harper, or who she is as a person.
It has everything to do with people like him thinking blood matters, that legacy matters.
And now, with Alexander attacking his family publicly, Harper is their last chance at continuing their dynasty.
Rowan’s voice is louder than the rest, but someone on the board says, "Surely security has this handled."
I am sure they do, but I have this feeling that I cannot ignore.
So I stand, grabbing my jacket, and move past the group of disgruntled men.
I hear them shout my name, and Rowan barking at them.
The doors closed behind me, and the noise disappeared.
But I am focused, moving with a need so desperate.
I need to see her. I need to make sure she is okay.
I move on autopilot, my driver waiting for me as soon as I get outside.
I gave him the address and don’t bother calling or messaging her.
I am not sure if she blocked me or changed her number, or has just ignored me.
But I need to look into her eyes, because she can lie to me over text.
But she cannot hide from me when we are face to face, even if she tries. I see her now.
I silence my phone when the drone of notifications becomes too much. We make it to her townhouse in good time, and as I step outside, a black town car pulls alongside me. It stops beside me and the back window lowers.
I am not surprised to see him here, but I am surprised by how raw he looks. That he is letting me see it. He studies me for a moment, then looks behind me to the house and then back, saying, "I sent her home."
I know they have multiple properties, so that doesn’t give a lot to go on.
I consider messaging Rowan. He has been oddly helpful lately, and I wonder if that has to do with Sofia being back at the office.
Although the tension between them is still off the charts, and I wonder what Harper would say...
Alexander continues, pulling me back to the matter at hand.
“I told her everything before I went public, and she didn’t take it well.
I needed her to be safe so I could focus on what I need to do…
” He paused for a moment, looking at the house behind me before continuing, "I always wondered. I suspected, even looked into it… but I found nothing on them and I…”
He looks destroyed, struggling to get the words out, but he chokes them out, forcing the truth to the surface.
“I failed her, failed them… There were nights I would convince myself it couldn't have been him.
Even though somewhere deep inside I knew.
But how could he? What father would do that?
It couldn't be true… no father..." he swallows hard, but continues, "..
would destroy his own son simply to win. "
That line hurts. Because it ought to be true.
"I was so wrong."
Alexander clears his throat, turns his face away, but I don't miss how he moves his hand, quickly brushing away tears from his eyes. When he turns back to me, his face has hardened.
Alexander says, "I have meetings with lawyers, different law enforcement agencies, and the media. I need to finish this."
He looks directly at me, and I have to suppress the urge to look away, because the pain is so visceral I can feel it. "She shouldn't be alone."
It’s not approval, but maybe something more important: trust. Alexander is laying it all out for me.
He is showing me what his family has done to him, telling me he needs to finish this and it will get uglier before it is all over.
Right now he is a father entrusting another man with the person he loves most.
I rub at the ache in my chest at the thought of what this must be doing to her. How this must feel like every old wound has been ripped open, and someone is constantly pouring salt into the wound.
I open my mouth to speak, but all that comes out is a croak. So I clear my throat and say the only thing that matters: “I want to be there for her.”
Alexander studies me for a moment before saying, “Siding with me could be bad for your business.”
I shake my head, my eyes locking on his. He needs to know I mean it when I say, “Business comes and goes.” and then I repeat, “I want to be there for her.”
Alexander turns from me, and my breathing picks up. He doesn’t believe me… But then he reaches for something and turns to hand me an envelope. I open it and peek inside to see an address, gate codes, security clearance, and everything I need to get to Harper.
Alexander says, "She probably won't answer her phone. She won't answer the door either. Harper hides when she's hurting." I look up from the envelope, and Alexander gives the tiniest smile. "Go anyway."
He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I move without thinking.
His car leaves, and I jump into mine and give my driver instructions to take me home and wait for me to take me to the airport.
I messaged the guys letting them know I will be out of state for the foreseeable future.
When I am settled, I will contact them and work remotely.
I used the drive to go over the contents of the envelope. He even included the information for his private plane that just so happens to be in Chicago, ready to fly to New York.
Time blurs as I pack and plan. My phone hasn’t stopped going off, but I ignore it and make it to the private airfield in no time.
On the flight, I go through the messages and respond to the ones that matter.
I give the bulk of the truth to Rowan; he can censor it and filter the information to those who need it.
I follow up with Caleb and Julian. They reassure me that they have something lined up with Richard's company to make up for the loss we experienced over the past weeks.
That Julian will be focused on it in the coming months.
I don't respond to Theo, but somehow he gets the information anyway and sends a thumbs-up emoji and a GIF from Notting Hill. I laughed and then turned my attention out the window of the plane. It is dark outside; not much can be seen. But the void seems to settle something in me. I know she probably won’t be happy to see me.
Fuck, Harper is likely to be angry, but I will be there for her in any way that she needs.
Even as an outlet for all her pain and anger.
And if, when this is all over, she sends me away, I will go.
It will kill me, but I will do whatever she needs to get through this.
A car is waiting for me when I land. Apparently, Alexander has thought of absolutely everything.
We drive and as we move past the city and the dark closes in again, nerves and anticipation bubble up.
That familiar panic, the what if I am not enough?
But I keep hearing that little voice that says she chose me once, maybe she can choose me again, but this time I add to that voice because even if she doesn’t choose me this time.
I choose her. I choose to be here for her.
We drive up to a massive gated property; it feels almost sacred when the gates open and we move again.
A sprawling estate reveals itself as we drive.
A weight settles in my chest, but I swallow down the feeling, thank the driver, and make myself move.
Alexander had messaged on the way saying that Harper had given all the staff in the home time off, that it should only be her at the property.
I blow out a breath, looking at the massive home…
The sheer size makes me feel smaller than I already feel.
I punch in the code Alexander gave me and hear the lock disengage.
My hand reaches out, and I hold my breath as I push the door open.
But I freeze; I hesitate for a moment. My fear and panic rearing their ugly heads…
Thinking… Maybe I shouldn't. Maybe she'll hate seeing me. But then I remembered the look in Alexander’s eyes, the pain in his voice.
She shouldn't be alone.
So I metaphorically pull up my big-boy panties and walk into her world for the first, or maybe the last time.
I set my bags down and listened for her.
I’m about to text Alexander, but then I hear something.
I pause, hold my breath, is she is crying.
It is so quiet. My heart drops, and I move towards the sound.
I rush through the unfamiliar space and find myself in a different wing of the house.
Then I see her… She is on the ground, on her knees in front of a closed door.
A sound must escape my lips, because her head snaps up and her blue eyes, that are usually so sparkly, look flat. She looks shocked; she almost recoils from the sight of me, but then something happens. Because her entire body softens as my name leaves her lips on a whimper, and I move.